Automatic record-changing apparatus



' Nov. 3, 1942. H, 3, ABE E 2,300,668

AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Y C. HABEGGER ill/7 ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 194 H. c. HABEGGER AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR 1942- H. c. HABEGGER AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet s ,Filed Dec. 11, 1940 FIG.4

Nov. 3, 1942- H. c. HABEGGER AUTOMATIC RECORD-CHANGING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1940 FIG."

INVENTOR HARVEY O. HABE GGER ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3., .1942

UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC RECO ITtD- CHANGING APPARA US Harvey O. Habegger, Marion, Ind assignor to Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1940, Serial No. 369,623

'1 Claims.

to the turntable. In such previously used automatic record-changing mechanisms, the center holes of the records were utilized not only to center the records but also to assist in the record-changing operation. The mechanism of the present invention, therefore, provides, to a new degree, safety for the records from breakage or other damage, particularly chipping around the center hole with resultant enlargement thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact record-changing apparatus of im-' proved and simplified construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic record-changing mechanism which handles 'the records entirely at their edges and hence operates with the mini-' mum likelihood of damaging them.

I accordance with the present invention, there is provided an automatic record-changing apparatus comprising means for supporting a stack of records above a turntable by engaging the peripheral edge portions of the lowermost supported record. A spindle extends upwardly through the center apertures of the stacked records, this spindle permitting lateral movement of the lowermost supported I record. Means are provided for first moving the lowermost supported record laterally whereby it is separated from the stack. Additionally, peripheral engaging means are provided which are adapted first to support and then simultaneously to release the separated record, whereby the latter remains substantially parallel to the turntable as it drops into playing position thereon.

It is an additional feature of the invention to employ a pair of unitary members for performing the separating and releasing operations on the lowermost record. Also in accordance with the invention, a second pair of unitary members may be employed for performing these operations when the mechanism is adjusted for use with a second size of records. The phonograph apparatus also includes a tripping mechanism associated with the pickup arm for initiating the operation of the record-separating means stylus reachesthe innermost groove of each of the records.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention, with the unplayed records removed but with a record on the turntable in playing position;

Fig. 2 is a right-side elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and partly in section, showing a group of records supported over the turntable and a record on the turntable in playing. position;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the cam arrangement for raising and lowering the pickup arm;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the apparatus of Fig. 1; p

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the reversing mechanism for operating one of the record-supporting means;

Figs. 6-9 show rightside elevations, partly in section, of the unplayed records, and represent respectively successive steps in the separation and release of the lowermost record;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partly-in section, of one of the record-supporting and releasing means; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the .friction clutch used for initiating the record-changing cycle.

To simplify the following description, it has been assumed that the record-changing mechanism is adapted automatically to play a group of twelve-inch records, hereinafter called large records, or a group of ten-inch records, hereinafter referred to as small records. The same mechanism is also adapted manually to play records of any size up to twelve inches. It will be understood, of course, that-a record-changing mechanism in accordance with the present invention may readily be designed to play records of difierent nominal sizes from those above mentioned for purposes of illustration, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention here illustrated embodies a phonograph apparatus including a and of the record-releasing means when the 5 base plate I supporting a. horizontally rotatable turntable 2, upon which is shown a record 3 in position to be reproduced. A pickup 4 is mounted at the end of a pickup arm 5, which is pivoted at the opposite end about a vertical axis on a shaft 6 (Fig. 3). The shaft 3 is rotatable within a pedestal I to permit the pickup 4 to move across the face of the record as its stylus 8 tracks the groove of the record.

A stack of unplayed records 9 is supported above the turntable by diametrically opposite record supports I A and IIIB. These record supports extend upwardly from thebase plate I to which they are fixedly secured. At the upper ends of the supports IDA and IIIB swivelymounted bracket members IIA and H3 are provided. In Figs. 1 and 2, the bracket members IIA and NB are shown in the position to support small records. They may be rotated 90 counterclockwise (Fig. 1) to adapt them to support large records, or 90 clockwise from the position shown to permit unloading of the played records or manual operation of the phonograph apparatus.

I loading records upon the bracket members I IA and' HE. The turntable 2 is driven by means of an electric motor I4, a pulley I5 on the motor shaft engaging a friction wheel I6 which, in turn, engages the inner surface of the flange at the edge of the turntable 2. The lower end of the spindle I2, which rotates with the turntable 2, has secured to it a pinion gear I! (Fig. 4). The turntable 2 and the spindle I2 rotate continuously during operation of the phonograph apparatus.

When a record on the turntable has been completely played, the movement of the pickup arm toward the center of the record initiates the operation of a tripping mechanism, presently to be described, and causes a .cam gear I8 to be moved far enough so that its teeth mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear IT. The cam. gear I8 thereupon is driven through one complete revolution about a fixed shaft I9, and comes'to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4. The cam gear I8 has several teeth removed from it at 23, the purpose of the mutilation being to break the driving connection between the pinion gear [1 and the cam gear I8. One complete revolution of thecam gear I8 defines one complete cycle of the recordchanging operation as will be evident later.

The cam gear I8 is provided with a cam surface 2|, as shown in Figs. 3- and 4. An arm 22, pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket 23.

which is fixed to the base plate I, carries a roller 24 at one end which'is biased by a spring 25 into engagement with the cam surface 2|. As the roller 24 follows the cam surface 2I, the other end of the arm 22 moves up and down. -This movement moves a pin 25 (Fig; 3) vertically in the hollow shaft 6. The upper end of the pin'28 engages the under side of the pickup arm 5 in such a manner as to raise the stylus 3 from the surface of the record 3 when the roller 24 passes over the high portions of the cam surface 2|.

As shown in Figs. 3 and .4, a lever 21 is affixed to the lower end of the hollow shaft 6. to

the upper end ofwhich is attached the pickup.

arm 5. Ahorizontal movement of the lever 21 effects a corresponding movement of the pickup arm 5. and vice versa. The free end of the-lever 21 supports a pin 23 which moves within an aperture 23 in the heel of an L-shaped lever 33. The aperture 23 is large enough so that the pin 23 may move freely with the lever 21 over a wide arc corresponding to the movement of the pickup arm 5 while playing a record. The L-shaped lever 30 is pivoted at 3|. A toe 32 of the L- shaped lever 30 engages a cam surface 33 provided on the cam gear I3. This toe 32 is maintained in contact with the cam surface 33 by a spring 34. After the stylus 3 has been raised from the surface of the record 3, in the manner previously described, and as the cam gear I3 continues to rotate, the cam surface 33 moves the L-shaped lever 30 in acounterclockwise direc-v tion (Fig. 4) about its axis 3|, thereby causing the right-hand side of the aperture 29 to engage and drive before it the pin 23. The pin moves the lever 21, and therewith the pickup arm I, in a radial direction away from the center of the record. The cam surface 33 is so shaped that the L-shaped lever 30 ceases its counterclockwiserotation when the pickup arm reaches a position beyond the edge of the turntable and and IIB are mounted upon the upper end of tubular shafts 35A and 353, respectively, (Figs. 2 and 10), which are rotatable about vertical axes within the supports IA and MB. Secured to the lower end of each one of the shafts 35A and 35B is a sprocket wheel 36, more clearly shown in Fig. 4. The sprocket wheels 36 engage a connecting means comprising a pair of toothed members 31 and 38, preferably in the form of levers, which are joined bya bar 39. This connecting means or lever mechanism allows the record supports to be moved in unison to any one of three positions: supporting position for small records, supporting position for large records, and non-supporting or unloading position. This is accomplished by manually moving either one of the bracket members HA and H3. The bracket members are locked in the desired position by the provision of a locking cam 40 secured to the lower end of the shaft 35A. Thecam 43 is provided with notches 4|, 42 and 43, which are engaged bya pin 44 secured to the end of a lever 45, which in turn is pivoted at 46 and held into engagement with the cam 40 by means of a spring 41.

The detailed construction of the rear record supporting and separating means is shown in Fig. 10. The bracket member H3 is provided with a first pair of slots 43 and a second pair of slots 49, the slots 48 guiding a sliding member 5313 having record-supporting lips 5IB, and the slots 49 guiding a sliding member 523 having record-supporting lips 53B. 50B is provided with a slot 54 positioned transversely to its direction of sliding, and the sliding member 523 is provided with a similarly disposed slot 55. The sliding members 533 and 52B are actuated by a pin 563, which extends The sliding member a hole 59 in a member 59, as shown in Fig. 4. The member 59 is pivoted at 69 to the base plate I, and is normally maintained by a spring ii in such a position that the lower end of the pin 58B is approximately centered in the hollow shaft 353. The lower end of the pin 56A in the front supporting means IDA freely engages a hole 62 in a member 63, as shown in Fig. 5. The member 63 is pivoted to the base plate I by a pin 64, and is normally maintained by a spring 65 in such a position that the lower end of the pin 56A is approximately centered in the hollow shaft 35A. A connecting member 66 is pivoted at one end to the member 59 at 81 and, at its other end, to a member 68, by means of the pivot pin 99. The pin 69 extends downward (Fig. far enough normally to engage the bifurcated end of the member 63. The other end of the member 68 is slidably pivoted at H to the base plate I. The member 68 has fixed to it a pin 12 arranged to engage the bifurcated end 13 of the member 69 at such times when the pin 69 is not in engagement with the bifurcated end 10 of the member 63.

The record-separating and releasing operation will now be described in connection with Figs.

4,'6-9 and 10. When the cam gear l8 revolves in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), a long pin 19, extending from the upper surface of this gear, engages a portion 14 of the member 59 and causes the latter member to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot 60. This causes the lower end of the rod 563 to be moved outwardly, which in turn moves the sliding member MB inwardly with respect to the center of the turntable. At the same time, the sliding member 50A is moved outwardly with respect to the center of the turntable. These motions of the sliding members 50A and 50B cause the lowermost record 15 to be pushed to the left until its righthand edge drops off the bracket member B and falls slightly to a position where it is supported by the lips 513. The right-hand edge of the second lowermost record now rests upon the sliding member 503. This phase of the operation is shown in Fig. 6.

As the cam gear i8 continues to revolve, the long pin 73 clears the portion 14 of the member 59, permitting the latter to be returned to its normalposition by the spring 6|. Presently the long pin 13 engages the portion I6 of the member 59, causing the latter to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 60, which in turn causes the sliding member 503 to move to its extreme outward position and, due -to the linkage 66 and 83. causes the member 50A to move to its extreme inward position. The low- This phase of the operation is shown in Fig. 7.

As the cam gear l9 continues its rotation, the pin 13 passes out of engagement with the portion 16 of the member 59, thereby permitting the latter to be restored, by the spring 6|, to its normal position. The lower ends of the pins 56A and 56B- are therefore again centered in the hollow shafts 35A and 35B, and the sliding members 50A and 50B are restored to their respective midpositions. The lowermost record .15 is thus centered over the turntable. This phase of the operation is shown in Fig. 8'.

As the cam gear i9 continues its rotation, a short pin I1, mounted upon and extending up wardly from the upper surface of this gear, en-

ages a cam member ll attached to the member 59, causing the latter to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 69. This motion of the member 59 causes the lower end of the pin 568 to move inwardly, so that the sliding member 503 movesoutwardly with respect to the center of the turntable. Simultaneously, the long pin 13 engages a cam member 19 attached to the lever 66, forcing the lower end (Fig. 4) of this lever to-the right against the biasing action of a spring 3, thereby causing the pin 69 to disengage itself from the bifursated end 19 of the member 63 and causing the pin 12 to engage the bifurcated end I9 of the member 63. Followingthe reversing operation just described, the last-mentioned counterclockwise rotation of the member 59 results in a clockwise rotation of the member 63 about the pivot pin 84. This in turn causes the lower end of the pin 56A to move inwardly, thereby causing the sliding member 59A to move outwardly. The simultaneous outward movement of the sliding members 50A and 5013 causes the lowermost record 75 to be released by the record-supporting lips FHA and SIB, after which it drops upon the turntable 2, into playing position. Imme-v eral'movement of the sliding members 50A and 50B, as to permit the lowermost record 19 to be moved laterally in the manner just described without interference from the spindle i2. It is pointed out'that the separating and releasing of the lowermost record is accomplished entirely without relying upon the spindle for support of or movement of this record. It is also emphasized that, while the upper end of the spindle is notched as described above and as shown in the drawings, the continuous rotation of the spindle will insurethat the center apertures of the stacked records will remain aligned properly to. position the records upon the supporting bracketsllA and B.

The automatic record-changing cycle effected by a complete revolution of the cam gear i8 is initiated by the automatic tripping mechanism, previously mentioned, which will now be described in greater detail. In moving toward the center of the record during the playing thereof, the pickup arm 5 moves with it the hollow shaft 6 which has secured to it a clutch 9| (Figs. 3 and 11). This clutch comprises a flanged sleeve 92 afiixed to the hollow shaft 6, and a plate 99 to which are aillxed the lever 94 and an ear 95 1 and which is mounted in frictional relationship with the flanged portion of the sleeve 92.v A suitable fiber washer 86 is placed over the plate 83. A plate 91 with a tumed-down ear 98 is placed over the fiber washer 96. A spring washer 89'is placed over the plate 91. A flanged cover member 99 is screwed on the sleeve member 82 84 engages the side of the lever 92, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, moving itin a counterclockwise direction. The free end of the lever 92 preferably is turned downwardly at a right angle and engages the lower end (Fig. 4) of a lever 93 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to base plate I. The upper end of the lever 93 engages the upper end of a starting member, preferably in the form of a lever 94, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends. by means of the pin 95, to the upper surface of the ,cam gear I8.

Each time the cam gear I8 makes a complete revolution, the upper end of the lever 94 engages the upper end of lever 93, which is so shaped that its engagement with the lever 94 causes the upper end of the latter to move toward the surface of the cam gear I8 and the lower end to move out of the path of a pin 95, attached to and rotating with the spindle I2. The lower end of lever 94 against movement in a horizontal plane. 'As the pickup arm 5 approaches the inner groove of a record, it moves the levers 84, 92 and 93 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) The" lower end of the lever. 93 carries a leaf spring 91 which lies in the path of a cam- 98 attached to the spindle shaft I2. The cam 98 periodically strikes the spring 91 and moves the lever 93, and with it the levers 92 and 84, in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the lever 84 changing its position with respect to the pickup arm by virtue of the clutch 8|. When the stylus 8 moves into the eccentric orcoarse-pitched spiral groove customarily provided as the innermost groove of the record, the lever 84 can be moved by the cam 98 in a clockwise direction only against the biasing action of the spring 9I. When this occurs, the cam 98 temporarily may movethe levers 93, 92 and 84 clockwise, but these levers immediately thereafter are returned in a counterclockwise direction byv to position its catch portion 99 in the path of the to the pickup arm, this change being permitted by the slipping connection of clutch 8|. This operation positions the lever 84- well forward of the pickup arm as the latter returns toward the center of the record, and insures positive engagement of the elements .84, 92 and 93 before the stylus 8 reaches the innermost groove of the record.

As previously noted, the record-supporting brackets IA and HE are shown in the drawings in the proper position for playing small records automatically. When it is desired to play large records automatically, the supporting brackets HA and H3 are rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction-(Fig. 1). In this case, the separation and release of the lowermost record is performed by the sliding members 52 (Fig. 10) instead of by the sliding members 59. Otherwise, the operation is similar. l

When changing record sizes, it. is also necessary to alter the amount by. which the pickup arm is swung inwardly to its initial playing position. Referring to Fig. 4, this adjustment is accomplished automatically by means of a cam I92 secured to the lower end of the hollow shaft B. A lever I93, pivoted to th base plat I intermediate its ends, carries a pin I 94 which is maintained in contact with the cam I92 by means of a spring I95. The other end of the lever I93 carries a set screw I98 which, when the record-supporting brackets HA and HE are positioned to support large records, is adapted to engage an upturned ear I91 of a lever I98 secured to'the ever, thepin I94 drops into the hollow I99 of the cam I92, and the set screw I98, in cooperation with the ear I91 and the lever I98, prevents the lever 39 from moving as far in a clockwise direcpin 95. As the pin 95 is rotated, it engages the catch portion 99 and moves it and the lever 94 in a horizontal plane, whereby the cam gear I8 is rotated far enough so that its teeth mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear I1, after which the pinion gear continues to drive the cam gear I8 through a complete'revolution to effect the cycle of automatic record changing.

As appears in Fig. 4, a fixed stop I99 is secured to the base plate I with an upturned end I9I positioned in the path of movement of the lever 84. As the pickup arm is swung beyond the edge of the turntable and the records thereon during a record-changing cycle, it moves the lever 84 in a. clockwise direction (Fig. 4) into engagement with the stop I99. This engagement iseflected, however, before the pickup arm has swung to its outermost position. The lever 84, therefore, is caused to change its angular position with respect tion (Fig. 4) as it otherwise would, whereby the pickup arm is swung less inwardlythan is the case when the apparatus is arranged for playing small records. Thus it is evident that the manual positioning of the brackets HA and H3 for supporting a stack of either small or large records automatically sets the mechanism for so positioning the pickup arm that the stylus engages the initial groove of the, record about to be played.

In addition to the automatic trip mechanism previously described, there is also provided manual means for initiating the record-changing cycle, as for example when it is desired to reject a record. This means comprises a spring-biased trip lever I99 pivotally mounted at II9 on the base plate I, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of this ever is bent to extend upwardly through an aperture in the base plat I, a suitable knob III being attached to the upwardly bent end, as shown in Fig. 1. The lever I99 is normally biased by a spring II2 out of engagement with the turned-over end of the lever 93, but it may be manually moved to engage lever 93 and hence to initiate a record-changing cycle by moving lever 93 in a counterclockwise direction far enough to disengage its upper end from the upper end of lever 94.

The general mode of operation of the record- 2,300,668 changing apparatus will now be described. After a stack of records has been placed upon the brackets l IA and B (Fig. 2) and a record 3 has been placed in playing position upon the turntable 2, the pickup arm 5'is moved manually "to place the stylus 8 in the starting groove of the record on the turntable.

The pickup arm 5 moves inwardly as the stylus tracks the spiral groove of the record and eventually reaches the innermost groove, at which time the automatic tripping mechanism is operated by the movement of the levers 84, 92 and 93 (Fig. 4) in response to the movement of the pickup arm 5, whereby the levers 93 and 94 disengage, and the catch portion 99 moves in a vertical plane into the path of the pin 95 provided on the spindle shaft l2.

Engagement of the pin 95 with the catch por-.

the cam gear I8 is driven by the pinion gear 11- a through one revolution to complete a recordchanging cycle.

As the cam gear rotates, the cam surface 2| (Figs. 3 and 4) moves the lever 22 and raises the pickup arm 5 off the record. Continued movement of the camgear l9 causes the cam surface 33 (Fig. 4) to move the L-shaped lever 39 and therewith the lever 21 to swing the pickup arm beyond the edge of the record on the turntable.

comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4' of the drawings, and reproduction of the record just placed on the turntable takes place.

The next and following cycles of automatic operation are initiated by the automatic trip mechanism each time the stylus moves into the innermost groove of the record. The last record of the stack will be repeated automatically until the mechanism is manually turned oif.

Unloading of the played records is accomplished by first rotating the brackets HA and MB to the unloading position, where they are out of the way when the stack of records is lifted vertically oil the turntable. If these brackets are left in this position, a single record may be played manually, the automatic mechanism functioning merely to repeat this record until the mechanism is turned off. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that means may readily be provided whereby the automatic mechanism which causes a manually played record to be repeated may be disengaged when the brackets HA and B are rotated to the loading position; Such a feature may be added to the mechanism of the present invention without departing from the "scope thereof, and has beenv omitted from the drawings and description mere- I ly to avoid unnecessary complication thereof.

Shortly thereafter, the pin 13 (Figs. 4 and 10), on the cam gear l8, engages the portion 14 of e the member 59 and moves the latter to cause a corresponding movement of the sliding members A and 503 (or 52A and 52B, depending upon the setting of the brackets HA and HB) This movement of the sliding members 50A and 50B moves the lowermost record 15 (Fig. 6) laterally the cam gear l9 causes the pin 13 to disengage itself from the portion 14 of the member 59, andto engage the portion I5 thereof. The resultant movement of the member 59 causes the sliding members 50A and 593 to move the lowermost record 15 laterally in the opposite direction so that its edge drops off the bracket IIA onto the lips 51A (Fig. 7). As the pin 13 disengages itself from the portion 16 of the member 59,- the latter returns to its normal position, causing the sliding members 50A and 593 to center the lowermost record 15 with respect to the spindle l2 (Fig. 8).

As the cam gear l8 continues its rotation, the short pin Tl engages the cam member 18 attached to the member 59, and simultaneously the pin 13 engages the member 19 attached to the lever 66. These two engagements produce such displacements of the members 59, 99, 68 and 63 that the lowermost record 15 is released by a simultaneous outward movement of the sliding members 50A and 59B, and gentlydrops' into playing position on top of the record 3 (Fig. 9).

The cam gear l8 has, by this time, rotated far enough so that the cam surface 33 (Fig. 4) allows the L-shaped lever 30 to move clockwise, under the biasing action of the spring 34, to re turn the pickup arm 5 to a position where the stylus .9 is over the starting groove of the new record.

At this time, the cam surface 2| (Fig. 3) has rotated to thepoint where the lever 22 permits the stylus 8 to descend into engagement with the record. Immediately thereafter, the cam gear ll While there has been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the ppended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic record-changing apparatus the true spirit and comprising a turntable; a pair of oppositely disposed supports relative to said turntable for supporting a stack of records above said turntable by engaging peripheral edge portions of the lowermost supported record; a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable and through the centering apertures of a stack of supported records, said spindle having a recessed portion for permitting lateral movement of the lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; a pair of members slidably mounted on said supports for being moved toward andaway from said spindle, said members having record-engaging portions above the surfaces of said supports for moving the lowermost supported record therefrom and record-supporting extensions below said supports; means for moving said members in a first direction for moving the lowermost supported record off of one of said supports and onto the record-supporting extension supported thereby; means for moving said members in a second direction for moving the lowermost supported record off of the other of said supports and onto the record supporting extension supported thereby; means for simultaneously moving said members away from said spindle for releasing said lowermost supported record from said rec ord-supporting extensions for permitting it to fall into centered position on said turntable.

2. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; a pair of oppositely disposed supports relative to said turntable for supporting a stack of records above said turntable by engaging peripheral edge portions of .the lowermost supported record; a spindle extending uptering apertures of a stack of supported records, said spindle having a recessed portion for permitting lateral-movement of the lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; a pair of members slidably mounted on said supports for being moved toward and away from said spindle, said members having record-enga in portions on the surfaces of said supports for moving the lowermost supported record therefrom and record-supporting extensions below said supports; means for moving in a first direction one of said pair of members for moving the lowermost supported record off of one of said supports and onto the record-supporting extension supported thereby; means for moving in a second direction the other of said pair of members for moving the lowermost supported record ofi oi the other of said supports and onto the record-supporting extension supported thereby; means for simultaneously moving said pair of members away from said spindle for releasing said lowermost supported record from said record-supporting extensions for permitting it to fall into centered position on said turntable.

3. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; a pair of oppositely disposed supports relative to said turntable for supporting a stack of records above said turntable by engaging peripheral edge portions of the lowermost supported record; a spindle rotatably connected with said turntable and extending upwardly therefrom through the centering apertures of a stack of supported records, said spindle having a recessed portion for permitting lateral and downward movement of the lowermost supported'record relative to said spindle; a pair of members slidably mounted on said supports for being moved toward and away from said spindle, said members having record-engaging portions on the surfaces of said supports for moving the lowermost supported record therefrom, record-centering portions below said supports and record-supporting extensions below said supports; means for moving said members in a first direction for moving the lowermost supported record oil of one of said supports and onto the record-supporting extension supported thereby; means for moving said members in a second direction for moving the lowermost supported records of! of, the other of said supports and onto th'e record-supporting extension supported thereby; means for restoring said members to their normal position whereby said record-centering portions center said lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; and

moving the lowermost supported record therefrom and record-supporting extensions below said supports; means for operatively connecting saidlmembers whereby they may be moved together; means for moving said members in a first direction for moving the lowermost supported record of! of one of said supports and onto the record-supporting extension supported permitting lateral movement of the lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; a pair of movable members positioned above said tumtable and diametrically opposite relative thereto, said members being movableto a first position for supporting a stack of records of relatively large diameter and being movable to a second position for supporting a stack of records of relatively small diameter; a first supporting edge on each of said members for engaging a peripheral edge portion of the lowermost supported record of a stack of records of relatively large diameter when said members are in said first position and a second supporting edge on each of said members for engaging a peripheral edge portion of the lowermost supported record of a stack of records of relatively. small diameter when said-members-are in said second position; first elements mounted on said members for moving over said first edges toward and away from said-spindle'when said members are in said first position and second elements mounted on said members for moving over said second edges toward and away from said spindle when said members are in said second position, said first elements and said second elements having record-engaging portions above the record-supporting surfaces of said edges and record-supporting extensions below the record-supporting surfaces of said edges; means for moving said first elements in a first direction when said members are means for simultaneously moving said members I away from said spindle for releasing said lowermost supported record from said record-supporting extensions forpermitting it to fall into centered position on said turntable.

4. An automatic record-changing apparatus comprising a turntable; a pair of oppositely disposed supports relative to said turntable for supporting a stack of records above said turntable by engaging peripheral edge portions of the lowermost supported record; a spindle extending upwardly from said turntable and through the centering apertures of a stack of supported records, said spindle having a recessed portion for permitting lateral and downward movement of the lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; a pair of members'slidably mounted on said supports for moving toward and away from said spindle, said members having record-engaging portions on the surfaces of said supports for in said first position and for moving said second elements in said first direction when said members are in said secondposition whereby when a lowermost supported record is on said first edges it is moved off of one of said first edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow and when a lowermost supported record is on said second edgesit is moved off of one of said second edges and onto said record-supporting.

extension therebelow; means for moving said first elements in a second directionwhen said members are in said first position and for moving said second elements in said second direction when said members are'in said second position whereby the lowermost supported record is moved off of the other of said supporting edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow; and means for simultaneously moving away from said spindle said first elements when said members are in said first position and said second elements when said members are in said second position whereby the record supported by above said turntable and diametrically opposite relative thereto, and being operatively associated with each other for being moved in unison to a first position for supporting a stack of records of relatively large diameter and being moved in unison to a second position for supporting a stack of records of relatively small diameter; a first supporting edge on each of said members for engaging a peripheral edge portion of the lowermost supported record-of a stack of records of relatively large diameter when said members are in said first position and a second supporting edge on each of said members for engaging aperipheral edge portion of the lowermost supported record of a stack of records of relatively small diameter when said members are in said second position; first elements mounted on said 7 members for moving over said first edges toward and away from said spindle when saidmembers are in said first position and second elements mounted on said members for moving over-said second edges toward and away from said spindle when said members are in'said second position, said first elements and said second elements having record-engaging portions" above the I'ECOI'd'.

supporting surfaces of said edges and recordsupporting extensions below the record-supporting surfaces of saidedges; means for moving said first elements in a first direction when saidmembers are in said first position and for moving said second elements in said first direction when said members are in said second position whereby when a lowermost supported record is on said first edges it 'is moved off of one of said first edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow and when a lowermost supported record is on said second edges it is moved off of one of said second edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow; means formoving said first elements in a second direction when said members are in said first position and for moving said second elements in said second direction when said members are in said second position whereby the lowermost supported record is moved off of the other of said supporting edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow'; and means for simultaneously moving away from said spindle said first elements when said members are in said first position and said second elements when said members are in said second. position whereby the record supported by said extensions is released for falling into centered position on said turntable.

'7. An automatic record-changing apparatus '7 tending upwardly from said turntable and through the centering apertures or a stack of supported records, said spindle having a recessed portion for permitting lateral movement of the lowermost supported record relative to said spindle; a pair of movable members positioned above said turntable and diametrically opposite relative thereto and being operatively associated with each other for being moved in unison to a first position for supporting a stack of records of relatively large diameter and being moved in unison to a second position for supporting a stack of records of relatively small diameter; a resilient means associated with one of said members for maintaining said members rigidly in either said first or second positions at different times; a first supporting edge on each of said members for engaging a peripheral edge portion of the lowermost supported record of a stack of records of relatively large diameter when said members are in said first position and a second supporting edge on each of said members for engaging a peripheral edge portion of the lowersupporting surfaces of said edges; means for mov-' ing said first elements in a first direction when said members are in said first position and for moving said second elements in said first direction when said members are in said second position whereby when a lowermost supported record is on said first edges it is moved off of one of said first edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow and when a lowermost supported record is on said second edges it is moved off of one of said second edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow; means for moving said first elements in a second direction when said members are in said first position and for moving said second elements in said second direction when said members are in said second position whereby the lowermost supported record is moved oil of the other. of said supporting edges and onto said record-supporting extension therebelow; and means for simultaneously moving away from said spindle said first elements when said members are in said first position and said second elements when said members are in said second position whereby the record supported by said extensions is released V for falling into centered position on said turncomprising a rotatable turntable; a spindle ex-' table,

- HARVEY C. HABEGGER. 

